politics
Germany Weighs Ending Automatic Protection for Ukrainian Men of Military Age
Germany's Interior Minister supports a European Commission proposal that could end automatic temporary protection for Ukrainian men aged 23-60. More than 265,000 such men currently live in Germany under that status.
Jul 7, 4:57 AM·1m read1 source
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Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt backs a European Commission proposal that would end automatic temporary protection status for Ukrainian men of military age who arrive in the European Union. The proposal would affect men between 23 and 60.
Germany's Central Register of Foreign Nationals shows more than 1.3 million Ukrainians live in the country, with 265,804 men in that age range recorded as of 31 May.
Martial law declared on 24 February 2022 bars most men aged 23-60 from leaving Ukraine without official permission. Men aged 18-22 regained the right to travel abroad in August 2025. He later moved to Canada.
Merz stated in November that Ukrainian men should remain in Ukraine. Senior members of his party have argued that military-age men should lose eligibility for Germany's basic income support. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates Ukraine has suffered between 525,000 and 625,000 casualties since the full-scale invasion began, including 125,000 to 150,000 deaths.
